The fashion industry in Africa is growing and it’s growing quickly. It’s expected that Africa’s fashion industry will be one of the most prominent in the continent by 2023, reaching $32 billion. This growth is due to the rising number of high-end designers and the wave of technology and social media in order to better access African fashion. But what pushes these African luxury designers forward and makes their designs stand out are the unique characteristics and heritage they incorporate into the collections. The heritage of the continent and its various countries are shown through the patterns, prints, cuts, textiles, and accessories. African luxury designers are prioritizing highlighting their cultures within their designs while also adjusting the composition and silhouettes for the current, modern luxury consumer. The following African luxury brands meticulously highlight the traditional culture and heritage of the continent while modernizing their designs to attract contemporary audiences.
Rich Mnisi – South Africa
A South African-based multidisciplinary contemporary brand founded in 2015. Delves into exploring the hidden treasures of Africa along with the culture and heritage to incorporate storytelling through his designs. Rich Mnisi intersects film, music, art, and nature while maintaining the core of the brand in extremist but minimalist compositions while maintaining an innovative design and premium craftsmanship. Announced his first collaboration with Adidas in 2022.
Orange Culture – Nigeria
Founded by Adebayo Oke-Lawal in 2011 with Nigerian roots specializing in menswear pieces. The brand is a “movement” that captures universal silhouettes through African influence and a combination of Nigerian-inspired prints, and colors, with urban streetwear. Highlights sustainable and ethical practices via ethically sourced fabrics for all pieces created. Awarded GQ Design Award and named “Best African Designer” by British Fashion Council in 2019.
Imane Ayissi – Cameroon
A stylist who modeled for top brands like Dior and YSL, inherited the love of fashion from his mother and draws inspiration from dance to create ready-to-wear collections that are a blend of African tribal art and Haute Couture. Centered around the shapes and movements of fabrics when worn and in motion, Imane Ayissi’s collections are created from traditional and natural materials from abandoned heritages. The designer has dressed many of the world’s most famous dancers and choreographers.
Lisa Folawiyo – Nigeria
The brand focuses on women’s clothing and accessories. The collections incorporate a mix of local textiles (such as “Ankara”), colors, and embellishments to create universal prints with local aspects. Through tailoring and fitting, modern and feminine silhouettes are created without having to sacrifice the traditional African aesthetic. Garments are artisanally handcrafted and can take up to 240 hours to form the final product. Lisa Folawiyo’s designs have been shown at New York Fashion Week.
Laduma MaXhosa – South Africa
One of the biggest African-inspired menswear brands based in South Africa specializing in the vibrant use of traditional Xhosa fabrics. Draws inspiration from the Xhosa rite of passage and seeks to celebrate South African culture with some interpretation for the modern audience. Geometric patterns are combined with bright colors while fusing Xhosa beadwork and contemporary design. The brand has collaborated with international brands like Nike and Puma and designs have been worn by the “Black Panther” cast to the world movie premiere.
Design in Your Own Way
Similar to these African luxury fashion brands, the students of Istituto Marangoni Miami participate in clothing design classes in order to create modern and intricate designs that incorporate their beliefs, ideas, cultures, or other personal aspects. Whether enrolled in fashion business, fashion design, or fashion styling, each student receives an individualized experience at IMM from small class sizes for personalized help and attention to a multitude of industry-experience opportunities.
Date: March 16, 2023
